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Are you disabled by aphasia stroke? Did you know there is an “Aging and Disability Resources” office in your county? Call 1-800-677-1116 or go to http://www.eldercare.gov to find the local location.

From Leslie Rigg, representative of the Northwest Regional Council, the Peace Stroke Support Group learned ADR serves as a resource hub of information about in-home care, medical information, caregiver support, housing, residential care options and general resources. Need to know about property tax exemption, a power of attorney, a living well, an advance directive, transportation, disabilities parking permits . . . Give them a try. They should be able to inform you and refer you to the right people.

Phonomotor Therapy for Aphasia research shows encouraging results. This study reduces speech to its lowest common denominator by emphasizing the development of phonic (sound) skills as opposed to the traditional whole-word therapy method.

Should you ever have an opportunity to attend an aphasia conference for survivors and caregivers, it is a must. On June 20, 2012, “Making Your Voice Heard” was the theme of the Aphasia Retreat organized by the University of Washington Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences and sponsored by The Lake City Lions Club who donated the Community Center space.

“Communicating with Healthcare Providers” was the first talk delivered by Carolyn Baylor, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, Acting Professor, UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. Those of you who have aphasia, I am sure, will have experienced the same disconnect I felt at times with doctors:

“How is it then I feel like I am running a gauntlet with those in the medical community? Part of the problem is that my aphasia limits my communication with them. While one million people in the United States suffer from aphasia, most people have never heard of it (NAA). Many of those in the medical community must be among them; they do not know the aphasic mind well enough to accommodate an aphasic’s special needs. Additionally, it becomes apparent that the economic climate has forced them to minimize the time they spend with patients. They need to hurry while my aphasic brain works slowly.” (Crossing the Void: My Aphasic Journey, “Running the Medical Gauntlet”)

From Dr. Baylor we learn the UW Department of Rehabilitation Medicine recognizes that most doctors do not learn how to work with aphasia, and are doing something about it. They have developed a program for UW medical students intended to help them better serve their aphasia patients.

“What have you always wanted to know by never had time to ask?” was the topic of the second talk by Sara Schepp, M.D., UW Medical Center, neurology.

There was also opportunity to visit with others, hear survivor and caregiver stories, and contribute toward the creation of a booklet to be presented to new aphasic survivors before they leave the hospital.

Aphasia is an acquired inability to process language. “Aphasia” means “without speech”, but may impact other aspects of communication. Besides not being able to speak, often times a person with aphasia will also not be able to read and write. They may also have difficulty understanding what they hear.

When an aphasic stroke took my words, I wanted to meet someone who’d been aphasic . . . and recovered. I wanted a book written by an aphasic person . . . who’d recovered and written of their experience. I wanted solutions and hope.

As I learned to speak, read and write again, I started to write the book I had been looking for. I wanted to share of my recovery to help others. It seems fitting that my book be only the beginning and this blog its continuum. Please add your comments to make this an informational forum among survivors and caregivers.